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Editor: Will Hanlon & Charlie Lambert
Profession: Tampa Defense Attorneys

Category: Criminal Law

State v. G.; Judge: Ronald Ficarrotta; Date: September 17, 2007

FACTS: The Defendant (client) was charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer (3rd degree felony), and Resisting With Violence (3rd degree felony). He was already very intoxicated when the police arrived at his home on the night of the incident. During the investigation, conducted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the client became upset because his girlfriend was being arrested. In an attempt to get to his girlfriend he pushed one of the deputies, and was arrested. During his arrest he struck struck the same deputy.

DEFENSE: While the State Attorney's Office takes all crimes involving violence very seriously; violent crimes against law enforcement officers are given even more attention. We provided evidence, through witnesses, that the contact with the deputy was inadvertant.

RESULT: The Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer was nolle prossed (dismissed), and the Resisting With Violence charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. The Defendant was placed into an intervention program on the misdemeanor. If successfully completed, that charge will also be dismissed.